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Speedway reports 72% qualifying AP score for class of 2025, cites broad access and supports
Summary
At the Sept. 9 School Town of Speedway Board of Trustees meeting, staff reported that 72% of the Class of 2025 earned qualifying Advanced Placement exam scores and that 97% of seniors took an AP exam. Officials highlighted an intentional, open-access approach and continuing professional development for AP teachers.
At the Sept. 9 meeting of the School Town of Speedway Board of Trustees, district staff reported that 72% of the Class of 2025 earned a qualifying Advanced Placement (AP) exam score and that 97% of seniors took at least one AP exam.
District presenter Mister Whorram told trustees the district has been named an AP District Honor Roll member for seven consecutive years and described the results as “leaps and bounds beyond” the College Board metrics used for the honor roll.
The report said the AP District Honor Roll metric requires at least 35% of a graduating cohort to earn qualifying exam scores; Speedway’s 72% far exceeded that threshold. Whorram and board members emphasized that gains occurred across student subgroups. Whorram said the school is a minority-majority district with a high percentage receiving free or reduced-price lunch, and that the AP gains were not limited to a single demographic.
Why it matters: Trustees and staff framed the results as evidence that broad access to rigorous coursework, combined with targeted supports, can raise achievement. The district described its approach as “open access” (also called intentional access)—encouraging students from across the student body to enroll in AP courses while providing midterm checks, pull-out instruction during “plug time,” and counseling to adjust placements if needed.
District officials said AP course supports include: district-funded professional development (AP Summer Institute attendance for new AP teachers), monthly PLC meetings for AP teachers to review data and plan interventions, and use of College Board indicators such as AP Potential and PSAT data as one input (but not the sole determinant) for placement decisions. Whorram said the district sets aside funds so teachers can repeat AP training if needed and that AP content directors provide classroom observations and curriculum feedback.
Board members asked how much the pandemic continued to affect AP results. Whorram said the pandemic cohort showed a low point in 2022 (44%) but that the district has “nearly doubled that percentage” for the current graduating class and believes students have rebounded.
Trustee Mister Smith praised the district culture and scheduling that expose students to AP work without “forcing” them, noting that Speedway’s smaller size may help create a norm of taking AP courses. Whorram said the district’s master schedule ensures that most students will take at least two AP courses; the district is exploring options to encourage a third AP course to meet new diploma requirements.
The presentation concluded with trustees thanking staff for the work on AP access and student supports. No formal action was required or taken on this report.
